SN 1–11 The Group of Connected Discourses With Verses – Sagāthāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 3 Connected Discourses With King Pasenadi of Kosala – Kosalasaṁyutta > SN 3.15 Battle (2nd)

Linked Discourses 3.15 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.15

2. Childless – 2. Dutiyavagga

SN 3.15 Battle (2nd) – Dutiyasaṅgāmasutta

Then King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha mobilized an army of four divisions and marched to Kāsi to attack King Pasenadi of Kosala.

Atha kho rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto caturaṅginiṁ senaṁ sannayhitvā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ abbhuyyāsi yena kāsi.

When King Pasenadi heard of this,

Assosi kho rājā pasenadi kosalo:

“rājā kira māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto caturaṅginiṁ senaṁ sannayhitvā mamaṁ abbhuyyāto yena kāsī”ti.

he mobilized an army of four divisions and marched to Kāsi to defend it against Ajātasattu.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo caturaṅginiṁ senaṁ sannayhitvā rājānaṁ māgadhaṁ ajātasattuṁ vedehiputtaṁ paccuyyāsi yena kāsi.

Then the two kings met in battle.

Atha kho rājā ca māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto rājā ca pasenadi kosalo saṅgāmesuṁ.

And in that battle Pasenadi defeated Ajātasattu and captured him alive.

Tasmiṁ kho pana saṅgāme rājā pasenadi kosalo rājānaṁ māgadhaṁ ajātasattuṁ vedehiputtaṁ parājesi, jīvaggāhañca naṁ aggahesi.

Then King Pasenadi thought,

Atha kho rañño pasenadissa kosalassa etadahosi:

“Even though I’ve never betrayed this King Ajātasattu, he betrayed me. Still, he is my nephew.

“kiñcāpi kho myāyaṁ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto adubbhantassa dubbhati, atha ca pana me bhāgineyyo hoti.

Now that I’ve vanquished all of Ajātasattu’s elephant troops, cavalry, chariots, and infantry, why don’t I let him loose with just his life?”

Yannūnāhaṁ rañño māgadhassa ajātasattuno vedehiputtassa sabbaṁ hatthikāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā sabbaṁ assakāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā sabbaṁ rathakāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā sabbaṁ pattikāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā jīvantameva naṁ osajjeyyan”ti.

And that’s what he did.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo rañño māgadhassa ajātasattuno vedehiputtassa sabbaṁ hatthikāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā sabbaṁ assakāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā sabbaṁ rathakāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā sabbaṁ pattikāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā jīvantameva naṁ osajji.

Then several bhikkhū …

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisiṁsu.

told the Buddha what had happened.

Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Idha, bhante, rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto caturaṅginiṁ senaṁ sannayhitvā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ abbhuyyāsi yena kāsi.

Assosi kho, bhante, rājā pasenadi kosalo:

‘rājā kira māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto caturaṅginiṁ senaṁ sannayhitvā mamaṁ abbhuyyāto yena kāsī’ti.

Atha kho, bhante, rājā pasenadi kosalo caturaṅginiṁ senaṁ sannayhitvā rājānaṁ māgadhaṁ ajātasattuṁ vedehiputtaṁ paccuyyāsi yena kāsi.

Atha kho, bhante, rājā ca māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto rājā ca pasenadi kosalo saṅgāmesuṁ.

Tasmiṁ kho pana, bhante, saṅgāme rājā pasenadi kosalo rājānaṁ māgadhaṁ ajātasattuṁ vedehiputtaṁ parājesi, jīvaggāhañca naṁ aggahesi.

Atha kho, bhante, rañño pasenadissa kosalassa etadahosi:

‘kiñcāpi kho myāyaṁ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto adubbhantassa dubbhati, atha ca pana me bhāgineyyo hoti.

Yannūnāhaṁ rañño māgadhassa ajātasattuno vedehiputtassa sabbaṁ hatthikāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā sabbaṁ assakāyaṁ sabbaṁ rathakāyaṁ sabbaṁ pattikāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā jīvantameva naṁ osajjeyyan’”ti.

“Atha kho, bhante, rājā pasenadi kosalo rañño māgadhassa ajātasattuno vedehiputtassa sabbaṁ hatthikāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā sabbaṁ assakāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā sabbaṁ rathakāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā sabbaṁ pattikāyaṁ pariyādiyitvā jīvantameva naṁ osajjī”ti.

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha recited these verses:

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

“A man goes on plundering

“Vilumpateva puriso,

as long as it serves his ends.

yāvassa upakappati;

But as soon as others plunder him,

Yadā caññe vilumpanti,

the plunderer is plundered.

so vilutto viluppati.

For the fool thinks they’ve got away with it

Ṭhānañhi maññati bālo,

so long as their wickedness has not ripened.

yāva pāpaṁ na paccati;

But as soon as that wickedness ripens,

Yadā ca paccati pāpaṁ,

they fall into suffering.

atha dukkhaṁ nigacchati.

A killer creates a killer;

Hantā labhati hantāraṁ,

a conqueror creates a conqueror;

jetāraṁ labhate jayaṁ;

an abuser creates abuse,

Akkosako ca akkosaṁ,

and a bully creates a bully.

rosetārañca rosako;

And so as deeds unfold

Atha kammavivaṭṭena,

the plunderer is plundered.”

so vilutto viluppatī”ti.